Clamping device for hem ends and device for drying and/or smoothing an item of clothing

ABSTRACT

A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing on an inflatable member, wherein the clamping device ( 1 ) has a common receiving area for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an inner ( 21 ) and an outer plate ( 31 ), wherein the plates ( 21, 31 ) are parts of flaps ( 2, 3 ), the inner flap ( 2 ) is connected to the outer flap ( 3 ) by a connecting element ( 5 ), and the connecting element ( 5 ) produces a clamping force between the inner and the outer plate ( 21, 31 ). The invention further relates to a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing, wherein the device ( 100 ) has a housing ( 110 ) via which an inflatable member ( 120 ) for tensioning the item of clothing (H) is held.

The present invention relates to a clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during the smoothing of said item of clothing and a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing.

It is known to stretch items of clothing for drying and smoothing from inside using an inflatable member to remove creases in the item of clothing and dry this. It is advantageous in this case if the item of clothing is spread out in its intrinsic shape and free from creases. This can be achieved in particular if the inflatable member has the same shape as the item of clothing to be smoothed. In the case of shirt-shaped items of clothing, a shirt-shaped inflatable member or an inflatable member having the shape of the upper part of the human body is used for this purpose. This inflatable member has a trunk section and two sleeve sections connected laterally thereto. All items of clothing for the upper part of the body can be smoothed using such an inflatable member. This can especially be shirts, blouses and jackets.

At the lower end of the side seam of shirts and blouses a slit is usually provided in the area of the hem. Since the inflatable member onto which the item of clothing to be dried or smoothed is pulled, inflates during the smoothing process, said member presses from inside against the item of clothing. In order to achieve a particularly good smoothing result, the inflatable member is usually designed so that its size is greater than the size of the item of clothing with regard to its cross-section. Thus, the inflatable member expands further into areas where the item of clothing does not oppose this with any tension. In the area of the side seam slit this means that this slit is pressed apart by the inflatable member which can result in distortion and creasing at the front and back section of the shirt, which causes a deterioration in the smoothing result. In addition, the item of clothing is not joined to the inflatable member in the area of the side seam and can slip upwards in this area as a result of the inflation of the inflatable member, whereby the smoothing result deteriorates further.

It is thus the object of the invention to provide a device which can avoid such creasing and furthermore, this device should be simple to operate.

The object is solved according to the invention by a clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing. The clamping device has the features of claim 1. In particular, the clamping device according to the invention is characterised in that this has a common receiving area for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an inner and an outer plate, wherein the plates are parts of flaps, the inner flap is connected to the outer flap by a connecting element, and the connecting element produces a clamping force between the inner and the outer plate.

By providing a common receiving area for the ends of the two sections of fabric to be held together, simple application of the clamping device to an item of clothing can be ensured. In particular, at the hem of an item of clothing where a hem slit is usually provided, the clamping device according to the invention can simply avoid any drifting apart of the fabric sections of the front and back parts of the item of clothing. Since the receiving area is used for both ends of the fabric sections, the fabric sections forming the slit can be brought into the receiving area in one working step.

The inner flap in the sense of this invention is designated as the flap which, after application of the clamping device to the item of clothing, rests on the inside thereof. The outer flap in the sense of this invention is designated as the flap which, after application of the clamping device to the item of clothing, rests on the outside thereof.

The clamping device according to the invention is especially suitable for holding together side slits in blouses or shirts whilst these are tensioned from inside by means of an inflatable member, and dried. The clamping device is also called a hem tensioner. The function of the clamping device is to fix the hem ends of all kinds of shirts or blouses which are worn over trousers or skirts, during the drying process. However, the uniform drying and smoothing of the item of clothing must not be impaired. With the clamping device according to the invention the ironing result is improved in the side seam area and especially in the case of folded seams as a result of the hem ends being held together. However, the clamping device according to the invention is not restricted to holding together hem slits at the side seam. Rather, this can be used for example for slits at the front or the back of the shirt in the area of the hem.

The number of parts is preferably kept as small as possible. However, according to one embodiment, for example, the outer flap can consist of two parts, i.e. it can comprise two part flaps arranged adjacent to one another. By this means, the hem ends can be inserted into the clamping device one after the other and nevertheless, a reliable alignment of the hem ends after insertion into the clamping device can be ensured.

Both in one embodiment with an outer and an inner flap and in an embodiment with one inner and two outer part flaps, the clamping device can be operated with one hand. This is advantageous since the two fabric sections, especially the hem ends between which the slit is formed, can be guided into the clamping device with the other hand.

The clamping force which is transmitted by the connecting element to the plates and prevents slippage of the fabric sections with respect to one another and sliding of the clamping device away from the fabric sections is selected according to these requirements. However, the connecting element is designed so that the clamping force can simply be lifted by manually actuating the clamping device. For this reason, the connecting element is preferably a spring element, especially a torsion spring. In this case, the spring force is adjusted according to said requirements or suitable material is selected for the suitable springs. The pressure on the surfaces between the flaps which is applied to the plates by the connecting element can, for example, lie in the range between 0.2 and 0.3 N/cm². In order to simplify operation, the spring preferably has a constant spring force over its spring path or this force increases slightly. The clamping device can preferably be opened so far that an angle of 45° exists between the flaps. This angle is sufficiently large to be able to receive a thicker fabric. On the other hand, actuation with one hand is still ensured.

Furthermore, the clamping device can have an engaging device for fixing the relative position of the flaps relative to one another. The engaging device can hold the clamping device according to its embodiment in the closed or in the opened state. The force for releasing the engaging device is designed to be low however to make operation easy. The engaging device can be formed by a notch and a corresponding notch recess. Alternatively, a leaf spring with a corresponding rolling element which rolls over the spring can be formed. Depending on the choice of engaging device, a further spring element such as a helical spring can possibly be dispensed with and the engaging device then forms the connecting element.

In order to simplify the opening of the clamping device, i.e., especially the tilting of the flaps towards one another, for the user, the outer flap can have an actuating lever. Said actuating lever extends from the area of the flap where the connecting element is located as far as the end of the flap which lies opposite to the plate of the flap, and which is arranged at an angle to the plate of the flap. A lever arm is hereby provided for the user which facilitates the operating of the clamping device. According to the invention, an actuating lever can also be provided on the inner flap, which however, preferably forms one plane with the plate of the inner flap.

According to one embodiment, the dimensions of the inner plate correspond to the dimensions of the outer plate. By this means a clamping force can be exerted over the entire surface of the plates on fabric sections located therebetween. In addition, distortion by projecting parts of the plates can be avoided.

Furthermore, the smoothing and drying result can be improved by the flaps consisting of an air-permeable material in the area of the plates. By this means an air flow between the fabric sections held together between the plates can be ensured and the overall drying and/or smoothing result is improved. The air permeability can be achieved for example by using a porous material in these area or by incorporating openings in these areas.

The flaps of the clamping device are preferably constructed in one piece and the plates and actuating levers, if provided, form areas of the flaps.

According to one embodiment, the plates of the clamping device have a higher bending resistance in their longitudinal direction, especially from the connecting element to the end of the plate, than in their width direction. This embodiment can be achieved by stiffening on the plates, especially on the outside of the outer plate or by different material thicknesses over the width of the plates. The advantage of this plate design is that the shape of the plates can adapt to the curvature of the circumference of the trunk section of the inflatable member onto which the item of clothing is pulled for smoothing. Nevertheless, this embodiment avoids bending of the clamping device relative to its longitudinal direction which could result in opening of the slit which is to be kept closed by the clamping device.

The material of the flaps can, for example, be a plastic or a coated metal.

The shape of the flaps, especially in the area of the plates, can for example be square, rectangular, round, oval or semicircular.

The size of the plates is preferably selected to be as small as possible so as not to impair the drying process of the fabric in the area of the slit. However, the length is designed so that this covers the slit that the clamping device is to hold together. The device according to the invention can for example have a width of 80 mm, a length of 100 mm and a height of 20 mm, the height including a bent actuating lever.

The inner flap and the outer flap preferably each have a coating in the area of the plates on the side facing the respectively other plate. This coating, which can be a layer of foam material for example, can avoid imprints on the item of clothing to be smoothed.

In one embodiment, the clamping device is provided with a weight. This weight can be integrated in one of the parts of the clamping device, for example, one of the flaps or it can be provided by the choice of material. However, it is also possible to connect a weight separate from the clamping device to the clamping device. The weight provided on the clamping device on the one hand aligns the side seam having the side slit provided at its lower end. On the other hand, the entire smoothing result is improved since the weight results in a tautening of the entire item of clothing in its side areas. The smoothing result can be further improved by weighting the end of the side seam by the clamping device according to the invention. The weight can be imparted to the device according to the invention by a weighting at the inner flap of 200 g, for example.

Alternatively or additionally to the weight, the clamping device can have a fixing device for fixing the clamping device to a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing. This fixing device can, for example, ensure that the clamping device is not lost. On the one hand, the position of the clamping device can be specified with respect to the device for smoothing and/or drying. Furthermore, especially if the fixing device is a tensioning device, the clamping device can be braced with the drying and smoothing device. By this means, for example, a tensioning force can be applied to the side seam of the item of clothing which improves the smoothing result.

The fixing device is preferably provided at the end of the inner flap facing away from the plate. This can prevent any distortion and the alignment of the clamping device to the device for smoothing and/or drying the item of clothing can be specified. For this purpose, the fixing device preferably has a strap via which the clamping device can be tensioned with respect to the device for drying and/or smoothing. In particular, the clamping device is tensioned with respect to a housing of the device for drying and/or smoothing since this has the required stiffness to be able to apply the desired tension to the item of clothing via the clamping device and the fixing device.

According to a further aspect, the invention therefore relates to a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing, especially a shirt or a blouse, wherein the device has a housing via which an inflatable member for tensioning the item of clothing is held. The device for drying and/or smoothing the item of clothing is characterised in that the device comprises a clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections, wherein the clamping device is connected by means of a fixing device to the housing of the device for smoothing and/or drying the item of clothing and has a common receiving area for the ends of the two fabric sections.

In this case, the fixing device can be a strap tensioner by means of which the clamping device can be braced with respect to the housing. By this means different positions of a hem slit on the item of clothing can be taken into account.

The clamping device according to the invention is preferably used when using a device for smoothing and/or drying an item of clothing where an item of clothing is tensioned from inside using an inflatable member.

Advantages and features of the clamping device according to the invention apply accordingly and, as applicable, also to the drying and smoothing device according to the invention and conversely.

The invention is explained in detail subsequently with reference to the appended figures.

In the figures:

FIG. 1: is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention when closed;

FIG. 2: is a schematic side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 when open;

FIG. 3: is a schematic rear view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 when closed;

FIG. 4: is a schematic plan view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 when closed;

FIG. 5: is a schematic plan view of a further embodiment when closed;

FIG. 6: is a schematic partial view of a side seam of an item of clothing with the clamping device applied; and

FIG. 7: is a schematic front view of a device according to the invention for drying and/or smoothing an item of clothing.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the clamping device 1 according to the invention. This comprises an inner flap 2 and an outer flap 3. In the embodiment shown the two flaps 2, 3 each have a plate 21 and 31 which each have a layer of foam material 4 on the side facing respectively the other plate 31, 21. Adjacent to each of the plates 21, 31 is a transition zone 22 and 32 adjacent to each of which is a lever 23 and 33 in the embodiment shown. The lever 33 of the outer flap 3 is arranged at an angle to the plate 31 of the outer flap 3. The lever 23 of the first flap 2 on the other hand lies in the same plane as the plate 21 of the first flap 2. A torsion spring 5 in the form of a helical spring is provided in the transition zone 22, 32. The torsion spring 5 which serves as a connecting element allows the outer flap 3 to tilt towards the inner flap 2. In the open state, the lever 33 rests on the lever 23. This state is shown schematically in FIG. 2.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the torsion spring 5 extends over the width of the flaps 2, 3 and ends at a distance from the sides of the flaps 2, 3. The spring length should at least be selected so that this corresponds to the width of the lever 33 or the lever 23, 33 and in addition, prevents any other movement of the two flaps 2, 3 with respect to one another apart from tilting about the longitudinal axis of the spring 5, for example, slippage of the flaps 2,3 with respect to one another.

In the embodiment shown the levers 23, 33 have a width which is smaller than the width of the plates 21, 31 of the flaps 2, 3. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to design the levers 23, 33 with the same width as the width of the plates 21, 31.

In the embodiment shown openings 6 are provided in the area of the plates 21, 31 which produce the air permeability of the plates.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention. In this embodiment the clamping device has two outer part flaps 311, 312 which are arranged laterally with respect to one another and in the embodiment shown are connected to the common inner flap 2 via two separate connecting elements 51, and 52, shown here as springs.

The lower part of a side seam of an item of clothing, in this case a shirt, is shown schematically in FIG. 6. A side seam SN is provided between the front and back fabric section of the shirt H. A hem S is provided in each case at the lower end of the fabric sections. At the ends SE where the hems S are facing one another, a hem slit is formed between said hems, extending as far as the lower end of the side seam SN. The slit is covered by a clamping device 1 which is shown as transparent to give a better understanding. The hem ends SE of the two fabric sections are received in the clamping device 1 and the hem slit is covered thereby.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention for drying and/or smoothing items of clothing. The device 100 comprises a housing 110 and an inflatable member 120 connected thereto which is shown only partly inflated in FIG. 7 so that it can be identified more easily. An item of clothing, for example a shirt H, which is only shown schematically, can be pulled onto this inflatable member 120. Clamping devices 1 are provided on the housing 110, on two opposing sides in each case. Said devices are connected to the housing 110 by means of a fixing element 130, in this case, a strap tensioner. After pulling the shirt H onto the inflatable member 120, the hem slits on the right and left sides of the shirt H can each be easily held together by means of the clamping devices 1. The clamping devices 1 can then be pulled by means of the strap tensioner 130 in the direction of the housing 110 until they exert a sufficient tension on the side seams i.e., stretch the shirt H in this area. If the inflatable member 120 is now inflated, the slit at the hem ends cannot expand and in addition the shirt H cannot slip upwards on the inflatable member 120. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing on an inflatable member, the device comprising a common receiving area for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections and the receiving area is surrounded by an inner and an outer plate, wherein the plates are parts of flaps, the inner flap is connected to the outer flap (3) by a connecting element, and the connecting element produces a clamping force between the inner and the outer plate.
 17. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the outer flap includes two part flaps.
 18. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the connecting element includes a spring element.
 19. The clamping device according to claim 18, wherein the spring element includes a torsion spring.
 20. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the clamping device has an engaging device for fixing the relative position of the flaps with respect to one another.
 21. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the outer flap has an actuating lever which extends from the connecting element to the end of the flap which lies opposite to the plate of the flap, and which is arranged at an angle to the plate of the flap.
 22. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the dimensions of the inner plate correspond to the dimensions of outer plate.
 23. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the bending resistance of the plates in the longitudinal direction is greater than that in their width direction.
 24. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the flaps in the area of the plates include an air-permeable material.
 25. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the inner flap and the outer flap each have a coating in the area of the plates on the side facing the respectively other plate.
 26. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the clamping device is provided with a weight.
 27. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the clamping device has a fixing device for fixing the clamping device to a device for at least one of smoothing and drying an item of clothing.
 28. The clamping device according to claim 27, wherein the fixing device includes a tensioning device.
 29. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the fixing device is provided on the end of the inner flap facing away from the plate.
 30. The clamping device according to claim 16, wherein the fixing device has a strap via which the clamping device can be tensioned with respect to the device for drying and/or smoothing.
 31. A device for at least one of smoothing and drying an item of clothing, wherein the device has a housing via which an inflatable member for tensioning the item of clothing is held, the device comprising a clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections, wherein the clamping device is connected by means of a fixing device to the housing of the device for at least one of smoothing and drying the item of clothing and has a common receiving area for the ends of the two fabric sections.
 32. The device according to claim 30, wherein the fixing device is a strap tensioner by means of which the clamping device can be braced with respect to the housing.
 33. A clamping device for holding together the ends of two fabric sections at the hem of an item of clothing during smoothing of the item of clothing on a clothes smoothing device having an inflatable member, the clamping device comprising: an inner flap having an inner plate and an inner lever; an outer flap having an outer plate and an outer lever; a connecting element connecting the outer flap to the inner flap for pivotal movement with respect to the inner flap between an open condition, in which the inner and outer plates are separated from one another, and a closed condition, in which the inner and outer plates are adjacent one another, the connecting element biasing the outer flap toward the closed condition; and a receiving area defined between the inner and outer plates for receiving the two ends of the fabric sections.
 34. The clamping according to claim 33, wherein the inner plate and the inner level are substantially co-planar.
 35. The clamping according to claim 33, wherein the outer lever and the outer plate intersect near the connecting element and the outer lever extends at an angle from the outer plate, the outer plate and the outer level are not co-planar.
 36. The clamping according to claim 33, wherein the inner flap faces toward the inflatable member and the outer flap faces away from the inflatable member during operation of the device.
 37. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the outer flap include a first section and a second section, each section being independently movable with respect to the inner flap.
 38. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the connecting element (5) includes a torsion spring.
 39. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the bending resistance of the plates in the longitudinal direction extending away from the connecting element is greater than the bending resistance in their width direction extending along the connecting element.
 40. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the inner and outer plates are air-permeable.
 41. The clamping device according to claim 33, wherein the inner and outer plates each have a coating in the receiving area on an internal side of the respective plate facing the other plate.
 42. The clamping device according to claim 33, further comprising a tensioning device, for connecting the clamping device to a clothes smoothing device and retaining the clamping device in a desired position. 